This past Saturday marked the summer solstice, which means that summer has officially begun. To celebrate, today's post is all about one of my favorite treats in the world - ice cream! From New York City to Norway and California, let's take a look at what's going on in the world of design and ice cream.

Morgenstern's (pictured above) is the newest addition to the NYC ice cream scene. The clean, classic design is modeled after a traditional, old-fashioned ice cream parlour. In addition to unique flavors like Brazilian Bourbon and Banana Curry, they offer a decadent selection of sundaes and royales.

Just a few blocks north, and battling for Manhattan's best frozen dessert, we have Il Laboratorio Del Gelato. While I'm not crazy about the sterile, laboratory-inspired design aesthetic, I am going to go ahead and declare this THE BEST GELATO IN THE WORLD. With a rotating menu of over 200 incredible flavors, owner Jon Snyder has nailed the art and science of gelato.

Now let's take a look at some unique and inspiring ice cream shops from around the world.

This adorable Dri Dri Gelato pop-up shop in London is reminiscent of a seaside beachtown with a striped boardwalk and changing huts. The design is so clean and simple, but the bright yellow really pops.

Over on the West Coast, Coolhaus offers architecturally-inspired gourmet ice cream sandwiches at their hip Pasadena and Culver City locations. The graphic, edgy, and too-cool-for-school design concept was created by LA architects Design, Bitches.

Coolhaus Pasadena

Coolhaus Pasadena

Coolhaus Culver City

Coolhaus Culver City

I love this whimsical ice cream shop located in an amusement park in Norway! Designed by Scenario Interior Architects, the ceiling looks like it's dripping a rainbow of ice cream, while adorable penguins mix and mingle on the floor.

Last but not least, I'd like to give a shout out to the now closed Sweetiepie. Sadly, this charming West Village ice cream shop is no longer open, but I will fondly remember its sugary sweet decor. With red tufted banquette seating and a gilded birdcage(!), this place was my childhood fantasy come true. Fancy!